some people are born fashionistas, the rest of us just need a little help
For some odd reason, beauty experts use seasons to describe your personal coloring, which is a combination of your skin tone, hair color and eye color. Once you figure out whether you’re a fall, winter, summer or spring, you will have more insight into what colors you should wear. This applies to makeup, clothes and jewelry.
So, let’s get started…
Winter
This is considered a “cool” or blue-based color description. People who are considered a winter, typically have hair, eyes and skin that sharply contrasts. For example, a fair skinned person with really dark hair and light eyes would be considered a winter. Winters look good in rich colors like black, red, pink and yellow.
Summer
This is also a “cool” or blue-based color description but it’s not as striking as a winter. People who are considered a summer will still have a contrasting look but it won’t be as sharp. For example, a fair skinned person with blond hair and light eyes would be considered a summer. Summers look good in muted pastel colors like powder blue, pale yellow and lavender.
Spring
This is a “warm” or yellow-based color description. People who are considered a spring will have a warmer skin tone and less striking coloring. For example, an olive skinned person with blond hair and brown eyes would be considered a spring. Springs look good in peach, bright green and ivory.
Fall/Autumn
This is a “warm” or yellow-based color description like spring that typically applies to the ladies with olive skin, dark hair and brown eyes. Autumns look good in beige, olive, orange and gold.
Once you figure out what season best fits you, it can be helpful when choosing colors that best highlight your skin tone, however, don’t use this as an excuse to not wear on particular color. All colors can be worn by all seasons as long as it’s combined with other colors that do compliment your particular season. This is a guide to help you look your best in your clothes and with your makeup. When I learned about seasons and figured out which one best applied to me, it definitely helped me when I decided to branch out of my comfort zone and start being more daring with color and patterns. So use these seasons as a baseline. Since I didn’t give a lot of detail, here is a link to an article I found that’s much more detailed.
www.thesoko.com/thesoko/article742-0.html
Check it out if you want more detail. Also, don’t be afraid to send me questions. I will do my best to find you an easy to understand answer. Visit the contact page and post your question there or send me an email to info [at] cluelessfashionista [dot] com. Stay tuned for more basics or join the email list to get regular updates.
With only about 6 weeks left of Summer, I have been asked by several readers and clients what are the best publications to find trendy cuts, colors and styles for the upcoming fall season. With these questions in mind, this month’s blog is a listing of magazines that I feel offer the very best in handling these and other hair/skin concerns.
* My number one publication for cut, color and style trends would be Sophisticates Black Hair. Not only because I’ve been featured in it, but because it is written with you, the client, in mind. It breaks down the cut, emphasizes the placement of color and gives step-by-step style guides.
* Hype Hair Magazine is also an excellent source for researching the hottest trends. This publication also has product reviews and expert advice on how to use them. This magazine also has a section for Q & A with an expert in that field.
* My third recommendation is going to make you think I’ve lost my mind..Vogue. I send my clients to this publication mainly for color and trendy cuts. Vogue is a fashion magazine, however, it tends to be an excellent source in the beauty industry for inspiration and direction for pulling it all together (fashion, color, cut and style).
Again, these publications are the ones that I subscribe to as well as send my clientele to review. They have never let me down in regards to being trendy and keeping me in the know with the beauty industry and new products.
For more information about Mandrill Hardge or to schedule an appointment with him, visit his website www.mandrillhardge.com
How much do you value your hair?
Your hair isn’t referred to as your crowning glory without good reason! The way it looks and feels can have a profound effect on your sense of well being so if you value your locks and want to banish bad hair days forever, there are some simple steps you can take to keep it looking tip-top.
Invest in the best!
Terry Calvert, award-winning hairdresser, President of the Fellowship for British Hair and founder of the Clipso Salon Group says: “Always use the best quality shampoo and conditioner you can afford. It may sound obvious but it’s amazing the number of women who spend a fortune on moisturisers that promise to keep their skin smooth, supple and wrinkle-free but who skimp on their hair, which needs just as much TLC if not more!”
Luxe Locks Begin With a Good Shampoo
If you can only afford to invest in one product Terry’s advice is to buy a good quality shampoo. He explains: “Cleansing is the first step to creating shiny, manageable, healthy hair and if you get this right, you’re half way there! There’s no point applying a good conditioner to hair that hasn’t been thoroughly but gently cleansed – it would be the equivalent of wall papering over the cracks and you’ll just end up with build-up and lifeless, lack-lustre hair.” Ask a professional stylist to recommend the best products for your hair type and condition and that way you won’t be left to make potentially the wrong choice from an overwhelming supermarket selection. Terry says: “A good shampoo is kind on the scalp and gently cleanses, removing dirt, oil and build-up, without leaving any unwanted residue. It also contains some conditioning ingredients and will go a long way towards improving the look, feel and manageability of your hair.” We recommend Kevin Murphy Angel Wash, Pureology Hydrating Shampoo, Kerastase Resistance Bain de Force and Alterna Caviar Moisture Shampoo. 
If you’re a colour junkie or you constantly subject your hair to damaging heat styling irons you need to use nourishing treatments like Redken Extreme Deep Fuel to keep your hair strong and healthy. Aussie session stylist Kevin Murphy’s Born Again Masque is excellent for rehydrating parched locks and celebrity brand Alterna, whose fans include Victoria Beckham, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, has just launched a super-nourishing Overnight Hair Rescue, which completely revitalises stressed-out hair.
The Candy Addicted online store stocks many of these and more and is a great place to shop for some of the best haircare products around.
I hope you enjoyed and learned from this great guest post from the team over at Curlformers. If you want more information about Curlformers, visit the website at www.curlformers.com. The company is based in the UK, however, you can purchase their products online. Curlformers look like a really cool way to give your hair long lasting curls!
Before you even put on any type of makeup, you must first determine what colors look best on you. Short of going to the drug store and buying one of every color, there is a way to determine the types of colors that will compliment you.
While applying makeup isn’t rocket science, there is a science to choosing the best colors. Now don’t worry, it doesn’t require you to go to college and get a degree in chemistry or biology. All it really takes is for you to spend a little time in the mirror. The first step to finding the colors that will look best on you is to determine your skin tone.
In essence, your skin tone is simply the color of your skin along with the color underneath. Now you may be wondering how is it that you have color underneath your current skin color. This is where the science comes in but you don’t need a PhD to figure out what it is. All you need is a white piece of paper and some good lighting.
Take the white piece of paper and hold it up to your face. If there is a yellow, orange or reddish shadow being cast on the paper, you have a warm skin tone. If there is a blue or greenish shadow being cast on the paper, you have a cool skin tone.
The best lighting to use for this test is natural light from outside. Also, the mirror should be a decent size to give you enough reflection so that it bounces back onto the paper.
Good luck! This color test is helpful for makeup colors as well as clothing colors. Check back regularly for more back to basics tips or join the email list to get updates in your email.
The other day I was browsing around on the AOL website and I came across this really cool article giving tips on how to keep your lips looking nice, smooth and healthy. I am a lip balm fanatic (I always have one or two with me).
When I was in the third grade, I began licking my lips a lot. I’m not sure why. It was suddenly as if I noticed that my lips were dry. Plus, I would lick not only my lips but the area right around the outside of my lips. Well after doing that for a few days, the skin around my mouth began to become tight, dry and uncomfortable. Of course that made me lick it even more. I was eight, I had no idea what I was doing.
A few days later, I began to notice that I was developing a sore around the edges of my mouth. I was horrified. Not only was it not attractive, it was highly uncomfortable. My mom noticed and gave me some lip balm (I believe it was vaseline) and I began to apply that when my lips got dry rather than licking and soon the sore went away. However, I was from that point officially hooked on lip balm. I had to have it with me at all times because I was afraid that I would lick my lips again and end up with a sore on my mouth. It was very traumatizing for eight-year-old me who was just becoming aware of my looks.
So, now that I’ve shared my lip balm story with you, here is a link to this nifty AOL Shopping article about keeping your lips looking good. I hope you see a tip or two that improves your pucker!
One day as I was writing a blog post I realized that many people find fashion and beauty intimidating because they don’t understand the basics. How can you know the right clothes to wear for your body type of you don’t know what your body type is? Or how can you choose a blush if you don’t know what color will look best on your skin tone? I mean, how the heck do you know what your skin tone is?
So, I decided to do a series where we go back to the basics. I will give you tips and insight on how to figure out the basics so you can feel better about stepping out there and stepping your fab game up. If you have other questions that you’d like answered, please send a message in the comments. I will get you the answer and do a blog post on it.
Stay fabulous!
This month’s advice is meant to encourage a stronger relationship between you and your stylist. Healthy hair is a team effort and therefore, the strength of the team is essential. Here are a few conversation pieces that I use with my clients to ensure that we are growing together and maintaining the healthiest hair.
* Ask your stylist what products they are using on your hair just in case you are not able to make your appointment or your stylist is booked up. This way your hair is staying in a consistent balance of moisture and conditioner.
* Also remember that your stylist’s assistant is essential to the healthiness of your hair. Develop a working relationship with him/her just in case you need them in the event that your stylist isn’t able to complete your visit. Keep in mind that the assistant is actually the one that is cleansing and conditioning your hair!
* Be sure to ask as many questions as you can think of to educate yourself on your hair. Gain a clear understanding of your hair structure and of future goals and desires with styling. Asking questions keeps you in the know about new products as well as new looks. Keep it fresh ladies!
The deepest secret that we as stylists have is that we LOVE it when our clients ask questions. With the proper education on your hair, you can achieve almost any look and over come any condition within your hair structure. I offer a brief consultation before ALL of my services, whether it’s a weekly client or a new client. This keeps me in the know about home maintenance and also your overall goals.
If you want more information about Mandrill Hardge or will be in the Atlanta area and want to have him style your hair (Side note from Clueless Fashionista: *Which is highly recommended, by the way. I’ve seen his work and it’s mahvelous!), visit his website at www.mandrillhardge.com.
This month’s hair advice is in conjunction with fitness goals. It’s getting hotter and hotter and I am more than positive that you beautiful ladies are eagerly waiting to hit the treadmill or even take those brisk walks and jogging sessions in your local park. Oh yeah, I haven’t forgot about those of you that have already signed up for swimming 101!
* In order to maintain those straight tresses, be sure to keep hair brushed back into a loose ponytail that is positioned in the middle of the head.
* Go by your local Sally’s Beauty Supply and ask for the terry cloth head wrap for spas. Wearing this during your treadmill time or jogs will help to keep the scalp from becoming too wet and messing up your press or your style.
* For those that are swimming regularly, there is a shampoo and conditioner formulated to remove the chlorine from your hair and keep hair in healthy condition. You may also pick this up at your local Sally’s Beauty Supply.
* The most important advice for this time of year is to make sure that you are seeing your licensed hair care specialist on a regular basis. Regular means bi-weekly if not weekly.
These are tips and product suggestions that I make for my clientele and the results are outstanding.
To schedule an appointment with Mandrill Hardge, visit his website www.mandrillhardge.com
The sun is shining and although it’s a bit chilly, it is officially sandal time!
Pedicures become much more common place in the warmer months and so is wearing more color. The other day I took my first spring trip to the nail salon to enjoy a mani/pedi. When I was in the front choosing my colors, I decided to go with a neutral color for my hands and a bright green for my feet. In that time I was deciding what color I wanted on my toes, I figured that my nail polish would be a great place to add that pop of color to every outfit that I wear.
So I decided to share my sentiment with you. If you want to add some color to your wardrobe, a great way to do it is with your nail polish. Be daring and bold with your nail color the next time you head in for a mani/pedi or a pedicure!
As we begin to transition from the cold winter months, our hair will definitely go through the weather transition. For those of you who, like me, have hair that is naturally curly, straightening becomes an issue in the warmer months.
A friend of mine who has a great youtube channel and blog for ladies with curly hair, particularly African American women, is doing a giveaway of a Misikko ceramic iron. Ceramic irons are great ways to straighten curly hair of all types. Below is her video about the giveaway as well as a link to her blog post with the instructions on how to enter (move fast, the deadline is Thursday, April 8 at 11:59pm EST).
Visit her blog here for entry rules and details. http://curlscoilsandkinks.com
And in case you’re not familiar with the Misikko brand of ceramic irons, here’s a short video that Lexi did showing how it worked in her hair.
I just entered the contest so you should definitely go check it out and Good luck!
I’m a writer and blogger that works in television and film production. I am a Clueless Fashionista dedicated to making fashion fun and easy to understand. If you’d like to learn more about me, visit my website www.ashiasims.com.
If you want to contact me with questions about Clueless Fashionista, visit the contact page. 
